Former Cuesta student found dead in the creek in Prefumo Canyon.
Photo courtesy of SLO County Sheriff’s Department
By Rachel Barnes
Editor-in-chief
The San Luis Obispo police department is investigating the death of Kristen Marti, a former Cuesta student, as a homicide.
Police recently announced that the main suspect in the crime is Robert Koehler, a 36-year-old Arroyo Grande resident, who owns a local mobile mechanic service in northern Santa Barbara and southern SLO counties.
“Detectives have identified a person of interest who was believed to be the last person seen with Marti before her disappearance,†Lt. John Bledsoe stated in a press release.
Marti was reported missing on Jan. 18. She was last seen on Jan. 9 in the residential area of the 1800 block of Perfumo Canyon off Los Osos Valley Road, Bledsoe said.
Officials found a female body on March 25 after a large-scale search.
“A Search and Rescue K-9 team located a body within the creek near the roadway in Perfumo Canyon,†according to Bledsoe.
An autopsy confirmed on April second that the body found was indeed that of Marti, officials said.
At that point, they determined that based on the circumstances surrounding the case that her death is being investigated as a homicide.
The Cuestonian has confirmed that the officials have determined cause of death, but are not releasing the information yet.
Cuesta officials confirmed Marti attended Cuesta from 2009 to 2012 and that she had no declared major.
Marti, a San Luis Obispo resident, graduated from Morro Bay High School, according to her Facebook.
Authorities are seeking the public’s help and asking that anyone who had any contact with the suspect or has any other information to call Detective Kemp at 805-783-7765.The San Luis Obispo police department is investigating the death of Kristen Marti, a former Cuesta student, as a homicide.
Police recently announced that the main suspect in the crime is Robert Koehler, a 36-year-old Arroyo Grande resident, who owns a local mobile mechanic service in northern Santa Barbara and southern SLO counties.
“Detectives have identified a person of interest who was believed to be the last person seen with Marti before her disappearance,†Lt. John Bledsoe stated in a press release.
Marti was reported missing on Jan. 18. She was last seen on Jan. 9 in the residential area of the 1800 block of Perfumo Canyon off Los Osos Valley Road, Bledsoe said.
Officials found a female body on March 25 after a large-scale search.
“A Search and Rescue K-9 team located a body within the creek near the roadway in Perfumo Canyon,†according to Bledsoe.
An autopsy confirmed on April second that the body found was indeed that of Marti, officials said.
At that point, they determined that based on the circumstances surrounding the case that her death is being investigated as a homicide.
The Cuestonian has confirmed that the officials have determined cause of death, but are not releasing the information yet.
Cuesta officials confirmed Marti attended Cuesta from 2009 to 2012 and that she had no declared major.
Marti, a San Luis Obispo resident, graduated from Morro Bay High School, according to her Facebook.
Authorities are seeking the public’s help and asking that anyone who had any contact with the suspect or has any other information to call Detective Kemp at 805-783-7765.
